7 China Reservoirs to See

1.Three Gorges Dam The Three Gorges Dam is a great hydroelectric dam which spans the Yangtze River as the world’s largest capacity hydroelectric power station with a total generating capacity of 18,200 MW.

The body of the dam was finished in 2006. Just like the function of producing electricity, the dam as well improves the Yangtze River's shipping capacity, and reduces the potential possibility for floods downstream by providing flood storage space.

Location: Yiling District of Yichang, in Hubei province, China

2. Longyangxia DamLongyangxia Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam, with a height of 178 metres (584 ft). It was built for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, ice control and also flood control. The dam supports a 1,280 MW power station with 4 x 320 MW generators that at a maximum, can operate a capacity of 1400 MW. Constituted with main body and a gravity pier, it is the secondary dam on both its left and right flank.

Location: at the entrance of the Longyangxia canyon on the Yellow River in Gonghe County, Qinghai Province, China

3.Xinfengjiang ReservoirXinfengjiang Reservoir is a man-made lake which is formed since the damming of the Xinfeng River by the Xinfengjiang Dam. It is the greatest lake in Guangdong, encompassing an area of 370 square km and has a storage capacity of 13.98 km3.

Famous for its clear and almost drinkable water, Xinfengjiang Reservoir water is even applied to produce the renowned Nongfu Spring brand of mineral water. It is one of the key senic spots of Guangdong.

Location: Heyuan, Guangdong, China

4.Liujiaxia ReservoirLiujiaxia Reservoir is formed by the Liujiaxia Dam on the Yellow River, encompassing an area of over 130 square km. The water level of Liujiaxia Reservoir is usually reported as 1,735 m (5,692 ft) above the sea level, actually, it varies significantly, due to the water flow and human needs.

Initially, the capacity was 5.7 km3 (1.4 cu mi), 10 years past, it lost 10% as the result of silting, and after 17 years, 17.4%, compared to other reservoirs on the Yellow River, this silting rate is considerably low.

Location: Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, China

5.Longtan DamLongtan Dam is 216.2 m (709.3 ft) high and 849 m (2,785 ft) long, as a large roller-compacted concrete (RCC) gravity dam on the Hongshui River in Tian'e County of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The dam contains one underground power station, two bottom outlets and seven surface spillways. The purpose of constructing the dam is for hydroelectric power production, flood control and navigation.

Location: Tian'e County of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

6. Xiaolangdi DamThe facility of Xiaolangdi Dam has a total installed capacity of 1,836 MW and generates up to 5.1 TWh annually with the help of six 306 MW turbines. It is in the height of 154 m (505 ft) and the width of 1,317 m (4,321 ft). There totally spend US$3.5 billion to construct.

Location: Jiyuan, China

7.Danjiangkou DamDanjiangkou Dam is a concrete gravity dam, originally in the height of 162 m (531 ft), as a part of the South-North Water Transfer Project and was heightened to 176.6 m (579 ft) to increase reservoir capacity. It was first constructed from 1958 to 1973 and heightened between 2005 and 2009.